Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box
DAYTON, Ohio – Redshirt freshman Jordan Jennings hit a two-out, walk-off double in the bottom of the eighth inning to help the University of Dayton softball team (17-22, 5-6 A-10) sweep the Saint Joseph’s Hawks (15-22, 5-6 A-10) on Sunday at UD Softball Stadium. Dayton beat Saint Joseph’s 3-1 in game one and 2-1 (8 inn.) in game two.
Jennings was 2-for-7 during the doubleheader with the game-winning double and RBI. Senior Brandy Brown was 3-for-5 with two RBI and a sacrifice fly. Senior Lauren Nacke was 2-for-6 with an RBI. Freshman Natalie Mariano also had an RBI.
Freshman Kayla English earned both wins. English (7-7) pitched a complete game in the first game with five strikeouts. English allowed one earned run on the day. Sophomore Alysha Isaacson pitched six no-hit innings against Saint Joseph’s in the second game. Isaacson finished the day pitching 7.2 innings with four strikeouts. English was called into relief to get the final out for UD in the top of the eighth inning.
Dayton opened the scoring in game one on Brown’s base-hit to right center to take a 1-0 lead.
In the fourth inning the Flyers increased their lead to 3-0. Mariano had a single to left field scoring junior Leah Sitter. Later in the inning, Brown hit a deep fly ball to score sophomore Rachel Archer on a sacrifice fly.
The Hawks scored their lone run of the game on Nicole Palase’s solo home run in the sixth inning, as UD slid past Saint Joseph’s 3-1 in game one.
Dayton struck first in game two on Nacke’s base hit, which scored sophomore Jenna Lopes in the bottom of the second inning to take a 1-0 lead.
The 1-0 lead held up for the majority of the game as Isaacson pitched six no-hit innings against the Hawks.
Melissa Ruf spoiled Isaacson’s no-hitter, smacking a leadoff home run in the top of the seventh to knot the game at one apiece. Ruf’s homer sent the game into extra innings.
Isaacson continued to pitch effectively in the top of the eighth. She was able to retire the first two batters in the frame. With a runner on first base for the Hawks and Ruf at the plate, UD called upon English to close out the inning. With English in the circle, Ruf uncorked a sharp liner that was snagged by third baseman Dana Trotta, ending the inning for Saint Joseph’s.
Trotta led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a base hit to center field. Isaacson reached on a fielder’s choice in the next at-bat, as the Hawks attempted and failed to get the force out at second base thanks to speedy running by Trotta.
Mariano reached on a fielder’s choice in the next at-bat, as Trotta was retired heading for third base. Maloof lined out to short stop to record the second out of the inning. In the next at-bat, Jennings unloaded a two-out walk-off double, scoring Archer for the win.
Dayton travels to IUPUI on Tuesday, April 17 for a non-conference doubleheader against the Jaguars. Game time is slated for 4 p.m. in Indianapolis.
